L earning  Objective  2

Define a plant in terms of the major kingdoms of life forms using the Five Kingdom system: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.  

Give characteristics that separate the five groups. 
Within the Kingdom Plantae, give examples and define sub-groups by key characteristics:  

Mosses  Ferns   Cone-bearing plants  Flowering plants

Bryophytes Pteridophytes Gymnosperms Angiosperms

In the flowering plant group, give key characteristics and examples of the two groups: monocots and dicots.

I. THE FIVE KINGDOM SYSTEM OF CLASSIFYING LIVING SYSTEMS 
 

 

A. Two groups are basically one-celled. 
1.* Kingdom Monera are one-celled without an organized nucleus.  
Examples: bacteria and blue-gree "algae."
For more information on bacteria and blue-green bacteria or cyanobacteria

link to these sites.


2.* Kingdom Protista are single cells having an organized nucleus or are colonial (composed many cells, but not specialized). They are primarily aquatic. 

Examples: seaweeds (algae) living in salt water and pond weeds which live

in fresh water.

For further information on seaweeds and algae visit these sites.



(Limu is the Hawaiian word for both marine
and fresh water algae, as well as for mosses and small plants which live in moist environments.)

Limu

B. The kingdoms below are multicellular and have specialized cells. 
1.Kingdom Fungi - not green or photosynthetic (producing own food). Non-motile (incapable of motion).  
Examples: mushrooms, mildew, bracket fungi.  For more information on fungi, visit this site.   

RedShelf Fungi

Cup Fungi

  

2. Kingdom Animalia - must obtain food, motile (capable of movement).  

3.* Kingdom Plantae - green, photosynthetic, non-motile (not independently moving). composed of four major groups as given below. Their key characteristics are given in Fig. 2-B.  
II. THE FOUR MAJOR SUBGROUPS OF KINGDOM PLANTAE (See fig. 2-B):  

    
A.The two groups of Kingdom Plantae reproduce by spores, which are one-celled reproductive structures. 
1. BRYOPHYTA - like Mosses and liverworts, are small and non-vascular plants. 
Because they have no vascular tissue (which provides for movement of water and food), the size of plant is limited, usually only inches high.
      One example of the first major group of Kingdom Plantae, Bryophyta, is moss. 
2. PTERIDOPHYTA - 

are composed of Ferns and fern allies (like liverworts, horsetails and ground pines). They grow much larger than bryophytes because of the presence of vascular tissue. 

  

Uluhe

Hapu'u

Ama'u

   
B.The two groups below must reproduce by seeds, reproductive structures which are composed of many cells.
1. GYMNOSPERMS-

Which have no flowers or fruits. Their seeds are borne naked on cones or other open structures.
Examples: conifers, cycads, pines, spruces and tropical podocarps.

  2. ANGIOSPERMS-

Which are also called flowering plants. They always have flowers and fruits. Their seeds are inclosed inside fruits, not naked.

Angiosperms are most of the plants that we see every day: over 1/4 million species! The two groups composing angiosperms are the monocots and dicots.

a. monocots have grass-like leaves, parrallel leaf venation, and flower parts in 3's (or multiples of 3's).

 

Grass-like leaves

Grass-like leaves

Parallel venation

Flowers parts in threes

 

Hala	Examples:grasses (like sugar cane and bamboo), sedges, lilies, irises, bromeliads (pineapple for example), gingers, banana, hala (Pandanus),

 

Taro	yam, aroids (like peace lily, philodendron and taro), palms, orchids and the century plant.

  b. Dicots Have broader leaves,flower parts in 4's and 5's(or multiples of 4's or 5's), and netted leaf venation.

Broad leaves

Five flower parts

Netted venation

'Ohi'a lehua

Examples: water lilies, avocado, poppy, cabbage, tea, autograph tree (Clusia) camellia, autograph tree (Clusia), Chinese violet, passion flowers, papaya, sundew (Drosera), hibiscus, euphorbs (poinsettia, jatropha, and cassava) croton, cacao (source of chocolate), lignum vitae, citrus (lemon, and lime), mango, ivy, maples, apples, cherries, thistles, jasmine, beans, ohi'a lehua, shower trees

Koa flower

monkey pod, koa, cactus, gourds, gardenia, carrot, cabbage, lettuce, roses, apples, silversword, sunflower and daisy.